Packed column for contacting two fluid phases



v Aug- 19,1952 l H. o. MCMAHON 2,607,572"

PACKED COLUMN FOR coNTAcTING Two FLuI-DPHASES Filed Juneil, 1946 f :s sheets-sneer 2 6E /ff Q/0' 30 70 f 6 72 4g l 3 I 'l 65 \`J INVENTOR.

=H. O. MCMAHON PACKED COLUMN. FOR CONTACTING Two FLUID PHAEs Filed June l1, 1946 Aug. 19, 1952A :s Smets-snee: s'

l INVENTQR. Eaeagd @.Mmo

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 PACKED COLUMN FOR CONTACTING TWO FLUID PHASES Howard O. McMahon, Lexington, Mass., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation ofV Massachusetts Application June 11, 1946, Serial No. 676,075 i (Cl. 2631-83) y claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in a packed'column forcontacting two fluid phases. Such a column may be a fractionating column, an absorption or Van extraction tower, one used for humidification or dehumdication, or any like column wherein liquid and gas are to be brought 4into intimate contact. The invention will be particularly described herein in its application to a fractionating column used for the separation and distillation of liquefied fluids of diierent boiling points, or more specifically the production of lsubstantially pure oxygen from liquefied air as describedv in the copending application for patent, Serial No. 674,670, filed June 6, 1946, now Patent 2,553,550, dated May 22, 1951, by Samuel C. Collins andI-Ioward O. McMahon.

In all packed columns the liquid is introduced at the top and permitted to descend in counter flow to the gases or vapors which pass upward through the column. It is highly essential that the flow of the liquid be distributed as nearly uniformly as possible because non-uniform distribution results in-,a marked decrease inthe efficiency 0f the column.l For this reason Vthereonventional column must Vbemaintained vertical in order to perform satisfactorily. Even'iftilted slightly the force of gravity acting Aon the liquid will cause itto accumulate, atV least to some extent, at one side of thevcolumn and produce nonuniform distribution. In some instances rotating columns have been used but, sojfar as I am aware, v

have been rotated at a suiciently high speed to effect a desired fluid motion by means of the centrifugal force generated. This usually involves the repeated outward flow of the liquid on the highly moving parts of the column and intermediate returns of the liquid along stationary parts to near the axis of thecolumn. `Mostsuch rotating columns are notadapted toemploy packing kwhich is exceedingly effective inthe distributionof the liquid Aandits,exposure to the rising gas 1 4 if" It an object of the presentlinvention;to;pro vide a simpleyet highly eilicientmethod.fonintimately and-uniformly contac ting liquid andgas in a packedcolumn. structurally it is anobject of the. invention to provide `a packed column which .can berotated and which will function ,withV greatest efficiency when tilted and rotated slowly about its axisuQThcifect oftilting may be attained by-intially mounting 'the column with its axis of rotation' .flxedineJ tilted relationto the'verticalorby fthe'column in a v ertical( position 'cna base or support y whic hce tn be tilted when the 'columnis in use. f Because the 55 impwveawmmn. anciens, sog'erafiveyyhen tilted it is especially applicable for use on aircraft, ships or moving land vehicles.

The tilting causes the relation between the force of gravity and the axis of the column to be continuously changing, hence the liquid instead of draining over towards one side moves generally downward in a sort of helical path, the axis of which is parallel to that of the column. Thus the liquid path length is greater than when the column is vertical and so theliquid and gas are exposed to each other for a longer period of time whereby a more eicient exchange is effected. The speed of rotation is so slow that no effective ,centrifugal force acts upon the liquid, indeed the purposeof rotating the column is not to utilize any centrifugal force butl merely to achieve a constantly changing relation betweenA the force of gravity and the axis of the column.

It is a feature of the improved column that it comprises two thin-walled cylindrical shells, the inner of which contains the packing and is rotated about their common axis. Another important feature resides in the novel seal at the bottom of the rotating shell which prevents the escape of any gas upwardthrough the annular space between the shells.

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, but these are to be taken primarily as illustrative for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist inthe improvements disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, at greatly reduced size, of a column embodying my improvements;

Fig. lo!r is a diagrammatic showing of the axis of rotation with respect to the Vertical;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in medial section, of the upper portion of the column;

Fig'. 3 is a horizontal section taken as on line 3-3 vof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, largely in medial section, of the lower portion of the column;

Fig. 5 is a. horizontal section taken as on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is also ahorizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. f

For purposes of description, the column will be described as it may be vused with apparatus for producing oxygen from air but it is to be understood that its use is"not so'limited for it may be employed to effect 'contact between other liquids and other gases .and supply vother products.

Referringnow 'toV Fig. `1, vthe column A comdetail later compressed air is :brought to a central manifold 26 and after moving through'the boiler leaves the column through another mani'- fold 22 as liquid air. This is eventually expanded and returned to the top` of fthe, cloliimn through an inlet 24, whence is pa'sses'downw'ard in the column in the process of rectification. Oxygen collects in the base of the columnand rnaydbe drawn therefrom as liquid through an loutletgf, or oxygen gas may be,y taken from the Vboiler through a lpipe 23 .extending within the central manifold 2i?. The 1waste 'gases or. efuent, consisting primarily of y:nitrogen and argon, A'pass upward inthe column, tube-'discharged therefrom through anoutlet'Si.. c v c The. .top 'edge of the shell 1D .(see Fig. 2) has a ring 32 secured -thereto and to whichis ,clamped .the edge fof adish'ed 'cover 3d 'by a 'second ring 3E. .To the latter are clamped three struts v33 which support thelhousing "i2 `for the transmission mechanism. This comprises? a shaft lli (to which the flexible driving'shaft Il can 'lbe 'conneet/ed) mountedlinball. bearings 2 and carryi'n'ga 'mitre'gear 'lili which meshes with another mitel'gear"ijsupportedby 'a'.bail bearing 43. A'shaft'll' extends `from theniitregeari 'to a hub 50 secred'tora'supporting'tube vwhich is 'connectedby thinarm'sb (seeFig."3) withan inner rotatablefs'h'ell 56. Between 'the' rotatable hub 5D Vand Aa iixed bearing 58 #at the'center oi the cover plate 34 A'is a 'ballbeaing 68. A baile 4tube 62, secured to thef edge f the fixed bearing '58, depends valongside the rtatable hub`5 and -part way down Vbes'd'etlie 'supporting l't'ulo'e "52s. Upon the fshaft 'being driven "fi'rn any suit- 4 saddles or other suitable material. I have found that if fine wire mesh cloth is cut into square pieces of about 1,/4 on a side and these pieces are then shaped like the well-knownV Berl saddles, a most satis/factory packingis provided. Such a packing representedtinffth'e drawings by the widely separated hatch lines' T6 drawn across the space of the rotatable shell. A

. The packing extends to another screen 'I8 which, as shown "in Fig. 4, is preferably of coni- 'a'l 'configuration and extends from the inner wall 'f the rotatable vshell 56 to a rotatable hub te.; 'from which 'min supporting. Struts a2 extend Yatie source of 'power *the irnti'onjis transmitted by the gears 44 and 65shaft'49y, -h'lirbftube 52 and "arms '54 to vthe inner" shell 56,A causing the iattertdterotatjd. Y Y

` Y Between"thev holg ffma'n'd 'the-fixed bearing 53 is "the Ailuitl A' tight encasin'g'j sleeve vl' 6 Vto the lower' end 'f which' is-att'aChed the tubular inlet 24 fr'iiqu'id"'air. A The cuter' enc of 'this inlet' is connected'by atube 'or'b pipe" (not shown) with an Y expansion device through which liquid airunder high pressure V'passes Vand-'tlfliis reaches 'the inlet at considerably lower pressure, This liquid air iiows intdth'e'sleeve l'aroundthe shaftgfand enters a l's rnall "chamber uforniedl in the top of the rotatable :hub "531, the 'latter having'fahole 68 therethrough whereby the 'liquid 'air 'can flow downward th'r'il'gh f-tlie 'suprtiig Ytljef''fand reach `the interior space of "thefrotatingfshell, Around the upper edge -of the rotatable Shelli is secured a baffle shield-fili which coni/engesr vtoward the axis yof thev column. With'inthe open space between the ltcp edge of thisbaile ashield and the baille tube 62 extends V[an Yauji'riliaryWinjle't fitting 'I2 to which a tube (not'shownjjrnaybe connected for inowof liquid air. This'auxiliary inlet 1S used ie' the apparat@ disclosed in. the `aforesaid Collins i and McMahon :applicati-on during the liquefactioniperiodwhen liquid air isac` cumulated 'inl thev'boil'er just pior toA theoxygen producing. Operationoftheeppafaws i1 Below a screen 'Il'atcits'upper endthe inner rotatableshell islled with packing-such asBerl 'to the wall of the rotatable shell just below the screen The hubil 'rests on a ball bearing 83 carriedwby fixed ybearing B mounted on arms whose outer endsare secured to the bottom'of the n'xed'out'e'r cylindrical shell l0 of the column.

lt is to be noted that the inner rotatable shell 56 extends ,belowlthe lower. screenV 'l8 yand the supporting vstruts 32. Just below the fb'otto'medge of this inner :'sliell thereissecured to-the 'fixed outergshell [da thirdshell whiche'xtends inwardvfrom the foutei'shellbelow the bottornfedge vo1 Y the rotatable `shell fand Tthen.'bends'upward to project an japprec'iabledistance' inside tlie @rotatable shell 5S. Thus 'there is *formed between 4,the xed outer shell Vl 'and'tlieffixedthirdishell 8B`a relatively `deep. 'trough '98; into which the `-lciwer end 'of the rotatablefshell '56', projects.. This trough .becomes more or less ,ll'ed 'with 'liquid which provides a highly 'efficient' seakat'fthebot'- tom end of theitatable"shelllandfprevets 'the escape of 'any gasf'or 'vab'or'intotliefaiinilarfspace between thexedfand rotatable shells. Tlf'iis'liqe .uid "seal has. schfadepth that the'icolurnn will loperate satisfactorily" e'veii'wh'en tilted'from *the vertical as 'much as'fteen degrees.

The boiler B' belowth'e columnmaybeY o'f`any conventionaltype wherein 'the Tliq'i'iid"'falling from thecoliimnis causedftoiboiradfthefresultirigfvae pors are returnedeithrinwhole'to thecolu'r'n, orinpart totheclumn andiri-'Dpaift arewitl? drawn?frcnn the`boi`leras'g' "or liquid. boiler may"be" built integrally Swithfthe lullin-soest() tilti'whe'n the'col'umnis'*tiltedf'or'it may-16 arranged vertically whileL the' column angle 'from the vertical." F'Pai'ti" tageo'us is V'the boiler'de'sribed'fin` application, Serial'Nol? 674.521,.' iil'ed Jue 946, now 'Patent "`2,494;3Q,' fdateffzl" .Tsii'ifuaiyy V1110 and ywhrciris 'iuustratieifinftrietacconipan g urawingsinra':mobatione ticuiariy adapted tof 'structure ""wlf'erinit 's -"sirriultaife'i`sly with the fractionatingeoluinn" i Y' pressure and4 I10st-jx.

ratur f opens-ing tating shell .5.6, over and'through the packing 16, fractionation occurs .effecting a* very considerable separation of the.liquid air jinto its major components, '.namely oxygen, and nitrogen and argon. `The oxygenfor'the most part remains in the liquid state and, together with some still vliquid nitrogen andargon, continues to movev downward and drainsv through the screen 18 to fall, on the cover plate 96 whence it runs to the Outeredge of .the boiler. There it enters the spiral channel formed by the plate 94 and ows toward ,thel inner end thereof in a counterclockwise ,direction as seen in Fig. ;6.

With the gaseous air moving generally in one direction withinpthe tubes 92 andwith the liquid product from the column. 4moving generally in the opposite directionlofqow outside the i,tubes in the spiralchannel formed bythe plate 94 'an eiective exchange of heat occurs which, as noted above, causes the gaseous air in the tubes to vbe transformed into liquid air before reaching'the discharge manifold; 22. The heat taken from the ,air is absorbed by the liquid in the channel. Near the entrance end of the channel the heat absorption primarily causes the remaining nitrogen and argon in the liquidproduct to be vaporized. These vapors rise to the top of the channel and iiow backward or clockwise therein to escape around the edge of the plate 96. This counterflow ofthe nitrogen and argon vapors with respect to the flow of the liquid product is enhanced by the fact that as the liquid product moves onward through the channel more heat is absorbed from the relatively warmer air in the tubes andthe oxygen is also vaporized. This occurswithincreased rapidity toward the inner end of thechannel so that apparently a slight pressure gradient is established at the top of the channel 'which' aids in the rejection and discharge of the nitrogenand argon vapors from the so-called entrance end of the channel.

The result of the elimination of the nitrogen and argon as aforesaid is to bring to the inner end of the channel, around .the inner or central manifold 20, both a liquid and a gas exceedingly rich in oxygen, indeed'substantially pure oxygen. The thus enriched gaseous oxygenis withdrawn through the'pipe 2'8 which extends downward through theV central manifold. If' liquid oxygen is desired it can be taken off through a tube which connects with the bottom of the spiral channel at its inner end. The gases given oi in theboiler rise in the column, become progressively depleted in oxygen content, pass out the top side outlet 30, and are utilized for refrigeration purposes in connection with the compressed air being fed to the column.

Despite the fact that gas is formed in the upper portion of the spiral channel below the plate 96, the liquid product from the columns usually rises to a level above this plate. This is entirely permissible if the level does not rise so high as to cause flooding of the column. To insure this, provision is made against the liquid product exceeding a predetermined level.

At the center of the plate 96 is a cylindrical shell |02 having a series of holes |0211I in its wall at the desired level, and above this having a series of openings |02b around the top edge of the shell. Across the top of the shell is a cover plate |04 having an outstanding depending skirt |04a extending somewhat below the level of the openings |02b. Below this upper skirt |04a is another baiile plate |06 with its skirt |06a extending below the level of holes I02a. When the in the apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid Collins and McMahon application, thus in either `case removing the excessof liquid from the boiler. The vaporsV formed from the liquid when they are returnedtothe column flow back again in pipe |08 to enter the shell |02 and escape therefrom through the top openings |02b passing under the skirt |04a and joining the other rising lvapors on their way to the rotating shell 56. The cover plate4 |04 andl its skirt |0401. preventrany of the liquid dropping from the shell 56 from enteringthe holes |0211.

By arranging theoutlet holes |02a relatively close' to theiaxis of the columnvthe permissible level o f the liquid in the boiler is not materially changed whether the column is close to the Vertical or appreciably tilted therefrom.

Although the collumnlherein ldisclosed is shown in the drawingsias vertical and will operate in this position with satisfactory results, it is to be understood that it willk perform with greatest separating Vefficiencywhen'tiltedv from Athe vertical. In Fig. l theaxis Vof. rotation of the rotatable shell is indicated by the `dot-and-dash' line d-a, and in Fig. la a preferred relationship of this axis with the verticalfiindicated by the dottical the highest'degree ofv separation is attained.

This is understood Vwhenit is realized that as the liquid descends in the rotating column the angle between the direction of the force of gravity and the axis of the column is continuously changing and the liquid instead of draining over towardsone side of the column moves downward in a sort of helicall path whose axis ing liquid and rising vapors are exposed to each' other for a longer period of time, hence a more efficient separation is effected.

The speed of rotation must not be too high otherwise the resulting centrifugal force would sling the liquid out towards the walls of the column and effect a non-uniform distribution. Experience has shown that a speed of 20 R. P. M. or less is desirable depending upon the diameter of the column. In general, the larger the diameter the slower the speed should be in order to avoid centrifugal disturbance of the liquid distribution.

It is evident that the column of this invention may advantageously be mounted in a tilted position, particularly in cases where it is on a relatively stable support which is not subjected to tilting. Thus, if this column is installed in a Furthermore, it,

agent-,we

Ward flow'throughsaidfpacking,and means'for rotating -said shell a't 'a v"speed '-vvhich produces no eiectivev centrifugalforce on the liquid, there by eiecting a'u'niform distributionof said liquid through saidpaekingI i l l V3. A packed column Vfor -contacting two fluid phases, comprising lan'upright Velongate tubular shell, packing within wsaid 'shell 'consisting Yof discrete-elements havingv 'a large -surface 'area relative to mass, said :elements being packed eo as to prevent relative movement thereof when said column is rotated,`means :for supporting said shell for rotationiabo'ut litsjelongate axis, andv means yfor rotating VYsaidshell atQ a speed' which produces no effective centrifugal force acting upon saiduid phases. I y I "4.fA packedicolum'n lfor'lcontasting tw'o 'iiuid phases,r comprising 'aftubular 'shelLfpaekingLwithin jsai'd shell consistingf'of ldiscretey eiementshaving-a large surface-areairelative to mass, vsaid-elernents "seing: packed so *as 'to prevent relative l''movenient aeking 'vvrthinsaid i elements lhavin'g a i "thereof when .said 1column is arotated, uneans' ifor supporting 'said s'he'll infor irritation' Vah'oiit an airis 'inclined 'from tlie vertical, andmeans forrrotat- :ingxsaid shell about', said 'axis aatia speed 'which produces'no' effective centrifugal orce 'upon Fsaid fluid phases. I

"5. A fraetionating 1 column l for .fthe tlie; separation Soffthe 'components of a fluid '.mixture, nom prising -a atubularvfshell inourite'd for .rotation labou-t an axis linclined .fromffthe ver-tical `and paked wth discrete elemets'havingfa largezzsur- 'face v"area relative tto' massf,zsaide1ements :being rpac'ke'dfso aszto preventfifelatvetmovement"there- 'fwhenisa'id .co1umn'isIrotated-,@means forliint'rodiioing lliqued "components "c'f 'said Pflui' :mixlture iii-toiture `upper part idf fsaids'sh'ell, means-.for lvi-ntrodueing gaseous :lcbmponents of said Jfluid fvrriixturel-into 'thel lower .part 'f'o'i said shell :and means 3f or rotating said shell at a speed 'which produ'oe's "ino effective c'eritrififgalforc'e on Zthe liquid, 'whereby ther-liquid lm'oves downwardly vv'ith uniform distributionlahdiurfder the' Icombi-'ned influence Nof 4'gravi-niv Sand rotation and fthe `gaseous components stravel inra eneraiiy" cou-ntereurienft YKflowrelatii/"e 'to Sad'liq'uidh fHoWARniofMcivinnoii. f

"REFERENCES CITED 

